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Thursday June 2nd
Monday June 6th
Thursday June 9th
Monday June 13th
Tuesday June 14th
Thursday June 16th
Friday June 17th
Friday June 24th
We are currently taking enrolments for 2023!
If there are any families with siblings looking to start next year, please see the office for an enrolment pack.
EDUCATION WEEK
Last week we had quite a few new families come to the school to have a look at our amazing school. I would like to thank the people who took the time out to meet and greet them in the art room before and after their tours. This allows the new families to ask those questions that they would not feel comfortable asking during the tour as well as a sense of the community that we are a part of. If you know of any families that are interested in coming to Winters Flat next year, please get them to contact the school to arrange a tour.
STRIDE EDUCATION
Last week we ran a program for all student in grades 2-6 on being supportive friends. During these sessions there were several topics covered including Negative self-talk, Growth Mindset, empathy, online reputations and image, body language, managing emotions and many others. We also ran a parent information session last night (Tuesday 31st May) which addressed how these topics were discussed and taught. This session was recorded and will be available to those who would like to have a look at the session. I would like to thank STRIDE Education for running these sessions and presenting such important issues in an engaging and energetic way.
RECONCILIATION WEEK
Yesterday all the student leaders from our school attended an education session about Reconciliation. I then challenged the leaders to think about this year’s theme “Be Brave. Make CHANGE” and what we can do as a community to embrace this and make change at our school. I will be meeting with the leaders over the next few days to discuss their ideas and how we “Be Brave. Make Change.”
HARMONY DAY PERFORMANCE
Next week (Monday 6th June) we are going to have “Wala” come to school to perform. A dynamic fusion of drumming, dance, percussion and soaring vocal harmonies. Three passionate, exuberant and talented performers present audiences with an exciting display of Ghanaian culture. With 15 hand-made African drums, flutes and stunning costumes, WALA engage their audiences in a call and response song, invite them to try out different instruments and to join in the dance.
Their enthusiasm is utterly contagious as they rejoice in the live sounds and rich heritage of their people.
WALA means “life” in their local language and the perfection of the name becomes clear as they explode into their breathtaking celebration of the Ghanaian Spirit.”
Check out some of their work below…
SUZANNE’s RETURN
I would like to thank you all for your support over the last 5 weeks stepping into the “big chair”. Everyone has been extremely warm and supportive of me in this time. It has been a privilege to work with everyone, however I am defiantly looking forward to returning to the classroom and getting back to where I am most comfortable.
COVID SAFETY
We continue to have COVID cases reported here at Winters Flat Primary School.
At school we promote and encourage:
- washing hands
- optional mask wearing (Staff, visitors and students Year 3-6)
- physical distancing
- rapid antigen testing
- Outdoors when practical
- Air purifiers indoors
Free rapid antigen tests
Free rapid antigen tests are still available for the remainder of term 2. We have plenty of kits at school for all families. Testing is strongly recommended twice a week for students and staff.
After doing the tests at home, if it is positive, you will need to:
- let the school know
- keep your child at home for 7 days
- contact the Department of Health via the COVID-19 Positive Rapid Antigen Test Self-Reporting Form or call centre on 1800 675 398.
A video about RAT testing in many different languages, is available online.
Getting vaccinated
Parents and carers must be fully vaccinated or have a medical exception (with limited exceptions) to enter school buildings.
All staff working in schools need to be fully vaccinated or have a verified medical exception.
If a teacher gets COVID-19, we will bring in extra teachers and other staff if we need them.
COVID-19 vaccinations are not required for students to attend school, but vaccination for students is recommended.
For more information on how to book a vaccination, including important information about vaccination for children aged 5 to 11, refer to Vaccination information for children and teenagers.
Feel free to contact us to clarify any concerns you may have. winters.flat.ps@education.vic.gov.au.
BIRTHDAYS
Arlo – 10 in the fourth week of May
Kaelyn – 9 in the fourth week of May
Katie - in the fourth week of May
Saskia - 11 in the first week of June
Jennifer - in the first week of June
Abigail - 12 in the first week of June
Hip Hip: Hooray
Hip Hip: Hooray
Hooray: Hip Hip
Suzanne Kinnersly
Principal
&
Keenan Lucas
Acting Principal
Please pack more food
Since the cold weather has set in, students are coming up to the office to ask for more food as they have eaten all their food by lunchtime. Could parents please ensure that students have plenty of lunch and snacks to last them for the day. Thank you.
Xuno
The preferred method of communication between school and parents is through Xuno. Xuno is the one stop shop for reporting your child absent, messaging teachers or contacting the school and for camps and excursions. If you need help logging onto Xuno, please come into the office and we can help you.
Last week our grade six students braved the freezing conditions and camped out at school overnight. It was a fantastic opportunity for students and staff to create lifelong memories. We are extremely grateful for the assistance of Kevin Brown, who was pivotal to the whole event coming together. Kevin generously provided the tents for the students to sleep in, as well as arriving early to work with a handful of students to prepare the site. We also are grateful to Martin Hurley, who volunteered his services. He used his drone to capture some amazing photos which you can see below.
The children have been producing some magnificent artworks this year. The Art Room is looking fabulous.
Afternoon Tea
Afternoon tea for all Winters Flat Primary School families!
3.15pm to 4.30pm Thursday 16 June
Stay behind after school on Thursday 16 June and enjoy a cup of tea, cake and a chat while the children play in the grounds (some games will be available).
We hope to meet outside, using the deck on the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden.
A community engagement sub committee event (based on families' feedback! If you'd like to bake something to share, please let Karen in the office know).
Election Day stalls
Thank you to all our wonderful, dedicated volunteers who contributed to the Election Day stalls. Thank you also to those who donated baked goods and plants. And finally thank you to everyone who turned up and purchased something from one of the stalls. It was a great success in building community engagement, and we also made a $1600 profit, which is a fantastic contribution to our fundraising efforts this year. Well done everyone!
We had an amazing team turn up at 7am for set up, and the help kept flowing until pack up at 2:30 in the afternoon. What an amazing community we have!
Hello Winters Flat Community!
A very important area of Youth Mental Health is self-esteem. Self-esteem describes one’s confidence and sense of self-worth and self-respect.
Primary school-age children and self-esteem
At school, children might compare themselves to their friends and classmates. At this age, self-esteem tends to relate to many things – including how well children learn, how they look, how they do at sport and how easily they make friends.
Challenges at school might seem to dent your child’s self-esteem because your child might feel less capable than others for the first time. But this will help them learn that they don’t need to be perfect at everything to be loved, valued and capable.
Here are some ways you can help:
- Give extra love and cuddles at the end of the school day.
- Focus on the effort your child puts in and the courage it takes to try new or difficult things. For example, ‘I know you were worried about dancing in the concert, but you were so brave to give it go’.
- Encourage your child to try again when things don’t go to plan the first time. You could say, ‘Go on, give it another try – I believe you can do it’. This also builds your child’s resilience.
- Coach your child through tricky social situations – for example, ‘Try giving a big smile when you want to join in. People will want to play with you if you look happy’. You could try role-playing these situations with your child first.
- Foster a good relationship between school and home by talking with the teacher to find out how your child is going. It’s also good to get involved in school life if you can, and show interest in your child’s schoolwork and homework.
Being connected to other people who care about them is important for children’s self-esteem. It helps to strengthen their sense of who they are. You could encourage your child to see their grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins, if that works for your family. Or you could get involved in a local religious community, sporting club or community service.
Kids’ Band - Teeny Tiny Stevies
Melbourne kids’ band, the Teeny Tiny Stevies are a favourite in our family. Their latest album, How to Be Creative, was released just last week and has some powerful messages for children. The titles of the songs give some insight into the messages and so far these songs have been played in our home a lot this last week!
- Inner Critic,
- Think Big, Start Small,
- Collaborate,
- I’m Bored
Have a listen and use these songs as a conversation starter with your little ones about how they see themselves: https://snd.click/HOWTOBECREATIVE
Take care J
Hannah
.
The mental health support system is under immense pressure. If you are having trouble accessing any services please contact me on hannah.okeefe@education.vic.gov.au. I am available for a chat/meeting on Tuesdays and Wednesdays between 9:15 and 2:15.
By far the best service you can contact if your child is experiencing a mental health crisis is the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS). They have a 24 hour number you can call to talk with someone and access services in the region: 1300 363 788 (https://www.bendigohealth.org.au/ChildandAdolescentMentalHealthService/).
The Loddon Orange Door is also an excellent free service for adults, children and young people. They can link you in with services. They are available 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday (closed public holidays). Call 1800 512359
The following list is a comprehensive directory of mental health support services, including out of hours support. (If your safety or the safety of others is at risk, contact emergency services on 000)
HeadtoHelp 1800 595 212
Cairnmillar Institute (free telehealth counselling) - https://www.cairnmillar.org.au/telehealth
1300 22 4636 (24 Hrs)
Lifeline
13 11 14 (24 Hrs)
Suicide Call Back Service
1300 659 467 (24 Hrs)
Kids Helpline
1800 55 1800 (24 Hrs)
Other helplines
Tandem Support and Referral Line information, support, advocacy or referral for family members or friends who are supporting a person with mental health issues. Call 1800 314 325.
Blue Knot Foundation Helpline information, support or referral for adult survivors of childhood trauma and abuse. Call 1300 657 380, 9am-5pm / 7 days a week.
Butterfly Foundation's National Helpline counselling and treatment referral for people with eating disorders, and body image and related issues. Call 1800 33 4673 8am-9pm / 7 days a week.
Child Protection (5pm to 9am Monday to Friday, 24 hours on weekends and public holidays) For children and young people whose safety is at risk Call 13 12 78
eheadspace mental health and wellbeing support, information and services to young people aged 12 to 25 years and their families. Call 1800 650 890.
MensLine Australia telephone and online support and information service for Australian men. Call 1300 78 99 78, 24 hours / 7 days a week.
Men’s Referral Service (8am to 9pm Monday to Friday; 9am to 5pm Saturday and Sunday). For people at risk of using family violence. Free, confidential, expert support for men and their family and friends. Call 1300 766 491
MindSpot Clinic telephone and online service for people with stress, worry, anxiety, low mood or depression. Call 1800 61 44 34 AEST, 8am-8pm (Mon-Fri), 8am-6pm (Sat).
QLife telephone and web-based services to support lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTQI) people. Call 1800 184 527, 3pm-12am (midnight) / 7 days a week.
PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia) telephone information, counselling and referral service. Call 1300 726 306, 9am-7:30pm AEST (Mon-Fri).
Brother to Brother, a 24-hour crisis line for Aboriginal men has been set up to provide extra support during the coronavirus pandemic. Call 1800 435 799.
SANE Australia support, training and education enabling those with a mental illness to lead a better life. Call 1800 18 7263, 9am-5pm (Mon-Fri).
Safe Steps (24 hours a day, 7 days a week) For women and children who are victims of family violence. Web chat support service Monday to Friday 9am until midnight. Call 1800 015 188
Sexual Assault Crisis Line (24 hours a day, 7 days a week) For victims of sexual assault. Call 1800 806 292
The Compassionate Friends Victoria information and peer support for families trying to rebuild their lives after the death of a child, sibling or grandchild, from trained volunteers with lived experience. Call 9888 4944 or 1300 064 068 24/7. Siblings (aged 18-30 years) can use the web chat daily, 3pm-12am.
Open Arms (Veterans and Families Counselling) 24/7 free and confidential counselling to anyone who has served at least one day in the ADF, and their families. Call 1800 011 046.
With Respect (5pm to 11pm each Wednesday and 10am to 10pm on Saturday and Sunday) Specialist LGBTIQ family violence service. Call 1800 542 847
Victims of Crime Helpline (8am to 11pm, 7 days a week) For adult male victims of family violence and victims of violent crime. Call 1800 819 817 or text 0427 767 891
Mental Health Foundation Australia National Mental Health Helpline offers emotional and practical support to families, carers and individuals with mental health issues. The response team does not provide counselling but can arrange a call back from a trained Psychologist or Counsellor. Call 1300 643 287.
If you feel that the stress or anxiety you or your family members are experiencing is getting too much, a psychologist may be able to help. Psychologists are highly trained and qualified professionals skilled in providing effective interventions for a range of mental health concerns, including stress. A psychologist can help you manage your stress and anxiety using techniques based on the best available research. If you are referred to a psychologist by your GP, you might be eligible for a Medicare rebate. You may also be eligible to receive psychology services via telehealth so that you do not need to travel to see a psychologist. Ask your psychologist or GP for details.
There are number of ways to access a psychologist.
You can:
- use the Australia-wide Find a PsychologistTM service. Go to findapsychologist.org.au or call 1800 333 497
- ask your GP or another health professional to refer you.
- Investigate other mental health services, including domestic violence services via the link: https://mhaustralia.org/need-help
NEWS | Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program
THIS WEEK IN THE KITCHEN & GARDEN...
What we're cooking in the kitchen this week...
Spicy Red Lentil soup
Wheat Tortillas
Spanish Chickpea Balls
Golden Syrup Dumplings
Self-saucing Chocolate Pudding
Crabapple Jelly
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Remember, all our recipes are available on our school website, so you can try them at home.
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Chefs of the Day
2/3W - Nova, Tanmay & Ava
4/6B - Faith & Riley
4/6L - Ellie, Seth & Arlo
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Kitchen volunteers
We would love some kitchen helpers in our cooking classes. They are held fortnightly on Mondays (even weeks), and every Wednesday, between 11:25am & 1:25pm.
What you can expect from a class: Students work in six groups to make six different dishes. Once a group finishes their dish, they clean up their bench, do dishes, and set the tables. Around 1:00pm, we all sit down together and share the meal.
Volunteers will need to sign in via the visitors log in the office and show their WWCC and Vaccination Certificate. Please contact the Karen or Kitty in the office if you would like to volunteer.
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Rosie & Jodie
Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden